How to Prepare Your Home for COVID

I let myself be lulled to a false sense of “it’s gonna be okay” by the latest positivity numbers touted by the governor of our state. I knew better, but yet I was not prepared when my husband came home from work with a fever.

Photo by United Nations COVID-19 Response on Unsplash

We had taken great precautions by keeping our son home from school, I was limiting my space with people, my husband had a bag full of all of the essentials needed to stay safe while delivering to businesses as a UPS driver. But, we live in an area where masks are seen as a sign of weakness, and even though my husband did everything right, the fact of the matter is that if you enter a room where someone has not taken precautions, you are immediately and without question in danger. Delivery and service people encounter multiple exposures per day, making them susceptible to both breathing in the virus and acquiring it via the constant mask adjustments they make throughout their 10 hour days.

But, enough about how we got here.

We are here and still hoping for the best. We are hoping this is a mild case that will leave our household soon. In the meantime, these are some of the things we have had to do immediately after I took my husband’s feverish temperature. I wanted to share them with you.

1. Once we established that my husband had a fever and would need to be separated he showered and sequestered into the master bedroom and it’s accompanying bathroom. This meant that maintaining distance became critical, even though I had already been around him to take his temperature and had kissed him goodbye that morning. This also means that as I started using my son’s bathroom right away, my hair and skin routine has been zilch. I’m using Johnson’s baby shampoo with no conditioner and what is left of some Neutrogena. Thankfully I keep a packet of new toothbrushes in the guest bathroom, I do have a toothbrush. My legs need some desperate attention, but for now, my Atilla the Hun look is the new me. (Hint: Keep a travel bag of essentials for all family members in a central area at all times.)
2. Masks all around. We have a food and drink dropoff area beside the bedroom. Neither of us goes without a mask as we alternate dropoff and pickup area. We only have cloth masks as I was never able to find a supplier of the KN95 masks in our area. Staying hydrated is a key component of staying out of the hospital with COVID. I pulled all of my pitchers from the cabinets and keep one filled with ice water for him at all times.
3. Gloves for cleaning up. You will need disposable gloves for handling dishes and for wiping down areas that need to be sanitized. Constantly washing your hands in hot water, bleach and soap will eventually cause your skin to dry out and crack.
4. Lysol and the Generics thereof. Unable to venture into stores for in-person shopping and the fact that our local stores made disinfectant spray unavailable for grocery pickup meant that I had to accept an offer for help. It is so hard for us isn’t it? When our Sunday School class, which has been meeting via online groups offered to get us a grocery card, I asked for cans of Lysol instead. And, they have been an important part of keeping areas clean. As I’m now sharing a bathroom with my son, I spray everything down as I leave and keep the vent running to air it out, just in case I’m carrying the virus and have not yet tested positive.
5. Air Purifiers with UVC Sanitizer and Ionizers. Fortunately, my sister was able to lend to us a medical grade air purifier from her office. We placed it in the bedroom with my husband to reduce any outgoing or viral buildup in the air. As the outdoor temps have been too hot to allow us much open window time, this has been incredibly helpful. When searching for an air purifier, do look for the UVC sanitizers or the ionizers. Do not buy an ozone machine. Those are only for unoccupied rooms and are dangerous when used incorrectly.
6. Thermometers and Fingertip Pulse Oximeters. You will need them. Patients with oxygen levels at 90 or below need to be taken to the ER right away. Earlier intervention is most effective.
7. Supplements and OTC medications. My sister shared with me a list of the products and supplements that her pharmacist friend and her husband used to get through their COVID experience. They are: Famotidine 20mg daily, Vitamin C 1000 mg 2X/day, Zinc, Echinacea, B-vitamins, Vitamin D 20,000 iu daily. You can also take Tylenol as needed for fever. Interestingly, while science is now showing some promising results with Famotodine, it is not recommended that you take Proton Pump Inhibitors, such as Prilosec. Your stomach will need the acid in your stomach to fight the viruses off. If you currently take these medications, make it a goal to make lifestyle changes to get yourself off of them. They are only designed for short term use.
8. Remember that the COVID patient should keep moving as much as possible without overextending. Also, COVID patients should lie prone on their stomachs at least twice a day, and use tapping on their backs to break up congestion in their lungs. Try to walk or sit on the porch as much as you can to get fresh air.
9. Don’t forget to file your FMLA paperwork in your workplace. Your manager will not remind you, but this will play a big part in keeping your insurance while you are out with COVID.
10. Talk to your doctor or call TeleDoc to get professional advice. This is nothing to take your best guess at or to go by what you think you know. “Dr. Google” is not going to be your best friend here. Medical professionals will.
11. Stay happy. If reading a book or watching football makes you happy, keep at it. If you can join your kids in their online gaming, this is a great way to spend time with them. And, remember, music is the great soul soother. Sitting in the sun listening to 70s music is one of my favorite ways to meditate. Peace out.

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash